Below you find a listing of four music files and a description of each. I've included these songs because they demonstrate patterns that relate to African American music. For example, the song Kyrie Eleison is a Kenyan spiritual based on the Latin Mass. I’ve also included two versions of the song Glory Box. The Portishead version (1994) is considered “electronica-blues,” while the John Martyn version (1999) is more traditional. Please email me with comments and suggestions: gsherif[AT}scienceleadership[DOT]org.
WORLD MUSIC
Muungano National Choir, Kenya
Kyrie Eleison
Song: Kyrie Eleison (1957 orig; 1991) Musician(s): Boniface Mganga, Director; Muungano National Choir, Keyna Genre: World music; spirituals Synopisis: Kyrie Eleison is the Greek for "Lord have mercy." It is part of the Christian Latin Mass. Under the direction of Boniface Mganga , the Muungano National Choir of Kenya introduced Congolese elements with rhythm, percussion and call and response. These musical elements can also be found in African American gospel music (religious elements) as well as jazz and hip-hop (call and response).
"ANYTIME-ANYWHERE MUSIC"
Glory Box (Portishead) & Glory Box (Martyn)
Song: Glory Box (1994) Musician(s): Portishead Genre: Electronica Blues (modern) Synopsis: This beautiful song is related to African American history because it is based on a repetitive blues chord progression. For example, the melody rhythm and lyrics are structured in A-A-B arrangement that mimics a basic blues structure:
A: I'm so tired, of playing with this bow and arrow
A: Gonna give my heart away, leave it to the other girls to play
B: Just...Give me a reason to love you. Give me a reason to be - ee, a woman. I just want to be a woman.
The electronic-based song tells the story of a woman who seeks comfort in recognition from her special partner. Note the scratchy LP-style skipping that suggests an old-school feel.
John Martyn, 1999
Song: Glory Box (1999) Musicisan: John Martyn Genre: Blues (more traditional) Synopsis: This Glory Box remake by John Martyn is a wonderful blues song about lost love. There are fewer electronic elements in the song and the singer changes a few words from the Portishead version. Listen for the surprise at the end where Martyn acknowledges a the electronica features of the original.
"MUSIC FROM BEFORE 1973"
Twisted
Song: Twisted (1959) Musicisan: Lambert, Hendricks and Ross Genre: Jazz/Scat Synopsis: Check out this witty take on the 1950's fascination with psychoanalysis. Are two heads better than one? Vocalist Annie Ross tells it like it is. Also listen for Ross' "percussive" alliteration that relies on syncopated syllables and rhythms found in Ella Fitzgerald's "scat" singing style. Some hip-hop/rap musicians from the 1980's and beyond also used variations of skat singing with an emphasis on syncopation, oral tradition, and "voice-as-instrument."
Below you find a listing of four music files and a description of each. I've included these songs because they demonstrate patterns that relate to African American music. For example, the song Kyrie Eleison is a Kenyan spiritual based on the Latin Mass. I’ve also included two versions of the song Glory Box. The Portishead version (1994) is considered “electronica-blues,” while the John Martyn version (1999) is more traditional. Please email me with comments and suggestions: gsherif[AT}scienceleadership[DOT]org.WORLD MUSIC
Kyrie Eleison
Song: Kyrie Eleison (1957 orig; 1991)
Musician(s): Boniface Mganga, Director; Muungano National Choir, Keyna
Genre: World music; spirituals
Synopisis: Kyrie Eleison is the Greek for "Lord have mercy." It is part of the Christian Latin Mass. Under the direction of Boniface Mganga , the Muungano National Choir of Kenya introduced Congolese elements with rhythm, percussion and call and response. These musical elements can also be found in African American gospel music (religious elements) as well as jazz and hip-hop (call and response).
"ANYTIME-ANYWHERE MUSIC"
Glory Box (Portishead) & Glory Box (Martyn)
Song: Glory Box (1994)
Musician(s): Portishead
Genre: Electronica Blues (modern)
Synopsis: This beautiful song is related to African American history because it is based on a repetitive blues chord progression. For example, the melody rhythm and lyrics are structured in A-A-B arrangement that mimics a basic blues structure:
The electronic-based song tells the story of a woman who seeks comfort in recognition from her special partner. Note the scratchy LP-style skipping that suggests an old-school feel.
Song: Glory Box (1999)
Musicisan: John Martyn
Genre: Blues (more traditional)
Synopsis: This Glory Box remake by John Martyn is a wonderful blues song about lost love. There are fewer electronic elements in the song and the singer changes a few words from the Portishead version. Listen for the surprise at the end where Martyn acknowledges a the electronica features of the original.
"MUSIC FROM BEFORE 1973"
Twisted
Song: Twisted (1959)
Musicisan: Lambert, Hendricks and Ross
Genre: Jazz/Scat
Synopsis: Check out this witty take on the 1950's fascination with psychoanalysis. Are two heads better than one? Vocalist Annie Ross tells it like it is. Also listen for Ross' "percussive" alliteration that relies on syncopated syllables and rhythms found in Ella Fitzgerald's "scat" singing style. Some hip-hop/rap musicians from the 1980's and beyond also used variations of skat singing with an emphasis on syncopation, oral tradition, and "voice-as-instrument."